Theater ahead: Oregon Children's Theatre's 2009-2010 season

Owen Carey/OCTOregon Children's Theatre's production of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," back in 2003. The company will stage a new version for its 2009-2010 season.

Oregon Children's Theatre has released the details of its 2009-2010 season. It's heavy on pigs and chocolate factories at first, and then it moves into the strange and delightfully demented spaces of author Louis Sachar.

Sachar himself will adapt one of his books, "Small Steps," the sequel to "Holes" (see the movie and read the book!), especially for Oregon Children's Theatre. And that counts as quite a coup for the company. And his "Sideways Stories From Wayside School," adapted for the stage by John Olive, closes the season on just the right odd note.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory October 31-November 22, 2009 , Newmark Theatre
Based on the book by Roald Dahl, this stage adaptation traces Charlie Bucket's adventures in Willy Wonka's weird candyland. For ages four and up. Directed by Stan Foote.

Giggle, Giggle, Quack January 30-February 21, 2010, Newmark Theatre
This musical romp wanders into the same barnyard trod this season by "Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type," by James E. Grote with music and lyrics by George Howe, For ages four and up. Directed by Stan Foote.

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs February 27-March 21, 2010 , Winningstad Theatre
OK, this might not be grandpa's "Three Little Pigs," because the audience decides the fate of one big, bad wolf at the end of each show. And did a muckraking reporter figure in the original? Didn't think so. Ages four and up. Directed by Stan Foote.

Small Steps April 24-May 16, 2010, Winningstad Theatre
The last time we saw Armpit, he was escaping from Louis Sachar's book, "Holes." Sachar's sequel, "Small Steps," a musical adaptation (songs by Karl Mansfield) for OCT by Sachar, will take his life another couple of steps and answers several important questions, including will he lose the nickname Armpit. Ages nine and up. Directed by Stan Foote.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School May 15-June 6, 2010, Newmark Theatre
Based on another book by Louis Sachar, adapted by John Olive, this play is set in the Wayside School, which may be haunted, and if it's not, is just plain weird. For ages eight and up.